Daniel 13

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim,	1 And there was a man living in Babylon, and his name was Joakim.
2 who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah;	2 And he received a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, who was very beautiful and God-fearing.
3 her pious parents had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses.	3 For her parents, because they were righteous, had educated their daughter according to the law of Moses.
4 Joakim was very rich; he had a garden near his house, and the Jews had recourse to him often because he was the most respected of them all.	4 But Joakim was very wealthy, and he had an orchard near his house, and the Jews flocked to him, because he was the most honorable of them all.
5 That year, two elders of the people were appointed judges, of whom the Lord said, "Wickedness has come out of Babylon: from the elders who were to govern the people as judges."	5 And two elder judges had been appointed among the people that year, about whom the Lord has said, “Iniquity has come out of Babylon, from the elder judges, who seemed to govern the people.”
6 These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the house of Joakim.	6 These frequented the house of Joakim, and all came to them, who had need of judgment.
7 When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband's garden for a walk.	7 But when the people departed at noontime, Susanna went in and walked around in her husband’s orchard.
8 When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for her.	8 And the elders saw her entering and walking around every day, and they were inflamed with desire towards her.
9 They suppressed their consciences; they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven, and did not keep in mind just judgments.	9 And they perverted their reason and turned away their eyes, so that they would not look to heaven, nor call to mind just judgments.
10 Though both were enamored of her, they did not tell each other their trouble,	10 And so they were both wounded by the love of her, yet they did not reveal their grief to one another.
11 for they were ashamed to reveal their lustful desire to have her.	11 For they were ashamed to reveal to each other their desire, wanting to lie with her.
12 Day by day they watched eagerly for her.	12 And so they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to the other,
13 One day they said to each other, "Let us be off for home, it is time for lunch." So they went out and parted;	13 “Let us go home, for it is lunch time.” And going out, they departed one from another.
14 but both turned back, and when they met again, they asked each other the reason. They admitted their lust, and then they agreed to look for an occasion when they could meet her alone.	14 And returning again, they came to the same place, and, each asking the other the reason, they admitted their desire. And then they agreed to set a time when they would be able to find her alone.
15 One day, while they were waiting for the right moment, she entered the garden as usual, with two maids only. She decided to bathe, for the weather was warm.	15 But it happened, while they watched for an opportune day, that she entered at a particular time, just as yesterday and the day before, with only two maids, and she wanted to wash in the orchard, because it was so hot.
16 Nobody else was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were watching her.	16 And there was no one there, except the two elders in hiding, and they were studying her.
17 "Bring me oil and soap," she said to the maids, "and shut the garden doors while I bathe."	17 And so she said to the maids, “Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the doors of the orchard, so that I may wash.”
18 They did as she said; they shut the garden doors and left by the side gate to fetch what she had ordered, unaware that the elders were hidden inside.	18 And they did as she ordered them. And they shut the doors of the orchard and left through a back door to fetch what she required, and they did not know that the elders were hiding within.
19 As soon as the maids had left, the two old men got up and hurried to her.	19 But when the maids had departed, the two elders arose and hurried to her, and they said,
20 "Look," they said, "the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us; give in to our desire, and lie with us.	20 “Behold, the doors of the orchard are closed, and no one can see us, and we are in desire for you. Because of these things, consent to us and lie with us.
21 If you refuse, we will testify against you that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you."	21 But if you will not, we will bear witness against you that a young man was with you and, for this reason, you sent your maids away from you.”
22 "I am completely trapped," Susanna groaned. "If I yield, it will be my death; if I refuse, I cannot escape your power.	22 Susanna sighed and said, “I am closed in on every side. For if I do this thing, it is death to me; yet if I do not do it, I will not escape your hands.
23 Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord."	23 But it is better for me to fall unavoidably into your hands, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.”
24 Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her,	24 And Susanna cried out with a loud voice, but the elders also cried out against her.
25 as one of them ran to open the garden doors.	25 And one of them hurried to the door of the orchard and opened it.
26 When the people in the house heard the cries from the garden, they rushed in by the side gate to see what had happened to her.	26 And so, when the servants of the house heard the outcry in the orchard, they rushed in by the back door to see what was happening.
27 At the accusations by the old men, the servants felt very much ashamed, for never had any such thing been said about Susanna.	27 But after the old men had spoken, the servants were greatly ashamed, for there had never been anything of this kind said about Susanna. And it happened on the next day,
28 When the people came to her husband Joakim the next day, the two wicked elders also came, fully determined to put Susanna to death. Before all the people they ordered:	28 when the people came to Joakim her husband, that the two appointed elders also came, full of wicked plans against Susanna, in order to put her to death.
29 "Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim." When she was sent for,	29 And they said before the people, “Send for Susanna, daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim.” And immediately they sent for her.
30 she came with her parents, children and all her relatives.	30 And she arrived with her parents, and sons, and all her relatives.
31 Susanna, very delicate and beautiful,	31 Moreover, Susanna was exceedingly delicate and beautiful in appearance.
32 was veiled; but those wicked men ordered her to uncover her face so as to sate themselves with her beauty.	32 But those wicked ones commanded that her face should be uncovered, (for she was covered,) so that at least they might be satisfied with her beauty.
33 All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping.	33 Therefore, her own and all who knew her wept.
34 In the midst of the people the two elders rose up and laid their hands on her head.	34 Yet the two appointed elders, rising up in the midst of the people, set their hands upon her head.
35 Through her tears she looked up to heaven, for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly.	35 And weeping, she gazed up to heaven, for her heart had faith in the Lord.
36 The elders made this accusation: "As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman entered with two girls and shut the doors of the garden, dismissing the girls.	36 And the appointed elders said, “While we were talking a walk in the orchard alone, this one came in with two maids, and she shut the doors of the orchard, and she sent the maids away from her.
37 A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her.	37 And a young man came to her, who was in hiding, and he lay down with her.
38 When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime, we ran toward them.	38 Furthermore, since we were in a corner of the orchard, seeing this wickedness, we ran up to them, and we saw them consorting together.
39 We saw them lying together, but the man we could not hold, because he was stronger than we; he opened the doors and ran off.	39 And, indeed, we were unable to catch him, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors, he leaped out.
40 Then we seized this one and asked who the young man was,	40 But, since we had apprehended this one, we demanded to know who the young man was, but she was unwilling to tell us. On this matter, we are witnesses.”
41 but she refused to tell us. We testify to this." The assembly believed them, since they were elders and judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.	41 The multitude believed them, just as if they were elders and the judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.
42 But Susanna cried aloud: "O eternal God, you know what is hidden and are aware of all things before they come to be:	42 But Susanna cried out with a loud voice and said, “Eternal God, who knows what is hidden, who knows all things before they happen,
43 you know that they have testified falsely against me. Here I am about to die, though I have done none of the things with which these wicked men have charged me."	43 you know that they have borne false witness against me, and behold, I must die, though I have done none of these things, which these men have maliciously invented against me.”
44 The Lord heard her prayer.	44 But the Lord heeded her voice.
45 As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,	45 And when she was led away to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel.
46 and he cried aloud: "I will have no part in the death of this woman."	46 And he cried out with a loud voice, “I am clean of the blood of this one.”
47 All the people turned and asked him, "What is this you are saying?"	47 And all the people, turning back towards him, said, “What is this word that you are saying?”
48 He stood in their midst and continued, "Are you such fools, O Israelites! To condemn a woman of Israel without examination and without clear evidence?	48 But he, while standing in the midst of them, said, “Are you so foolish, sons of Israel, that without judging and without knowing what the truth is, you have condemned a daughter of Israel?
49 Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her."	49 Return to judgment, because they have spoken false witness against her.”
50 Then all the people returned in haste. To Daniel the elders said, "Come, sit with us and inform us, since God has given you the prestige of old age."	50 Therefore, the people returned with haste, and the old men said to him, “Come and sit down in our midst and show us, since God has given you the honor of old age.”
51 But he replied, "Separate these two far from one another that I may examine them."	51 And Daniel said to them, “Separate these at a distance from one another, and I will judge between them.”
52 After they were separated one from the other, he called one of them and said: "How you have grown evil with age! Now have your past sins come to term:	52 And so, when they were divided, one from the other, he called one of them, and he said to him, “You deep-rooted ancient evil, now your sins have come out, which you have committed before,
53 passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent, and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says, "The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.'	53 judging unjust judgments, oppressing the innocent, and setting free the guilty, though the Lord declares, ‘The innocent and the just you must not put to death.’
54 Now, then, if you were a witness, tell me under what tree you saw them together."	54 Now then, if you saw her, declare under which tree you saw them conversing together.” He said, “Under an evergreen mastic tree.”
55 "Under a mastic tree," he answered. "Your fine lie has cost you your head," said Daniel; "for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him and split you in two."	55 But Daniel said, “Truly, you have lied against your own head. For behold, the angel of God, having received the sentence from him, will split you down the middle.
56 Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought. "Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah," Daniel said to him, "beauty has seduced you, lust has subverted your conscience.	56 And, having put him aside, he commanded the other to approach, and he said to him, “You offspring of Canaan, and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you, and desire has perverted your heart.
57 This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel, and in their fear they yielded to you; but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness.	57 Thus did you do to the daughters of Israel, and they, out of fear, consorted with you, but a daughter of Judah would not tolerate your iniquity.
58 Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together."	58 Now then, declare to me, under which tree you caught them conversing together.” He said, “Under an evergreen oak tree.”
59 "Under an oak," he said. "Your fine lie has cost you also your head," said Daniel; "for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two so as to make an end of you both."	59 And Daniel said to him, “Truly, you also have lied against your own head. For the angel of the Lord waits, holding a sword, to cut you down the middle and put you to death.”
60 The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those that hope in him.	60 And then the entire assembly cried out in a loud voice, and they blessed God, who saves those who hope in him.
61 They rose up against the two elders, for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury. According to the law of Moses, they inflicted on them the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor:	61 And they rose up against the two appointed elders, (for Daniel had convicted them, by their own mouth, of bearing false witness,) and they did to them just as they had wickedly done against their neighbor,
62 they put them to death. Thus was innocent blood spared that day.	62 so as to act according to the law of Moses. And they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved on that day.
63 Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, as did Joakim her husband and all her relatives, because she was found innocent of any shameful deed.	63 But Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter, Susanna, with Joakim, her husband, and all her relatives, because there had been found in her no disgrace.
64 And from that day onward Daniel was greatly esteemed by the people.	64 And so Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day, and thereafter.
	65 And king Astyages was laid to rest with his fathers. And Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom.